Uncle Joe And His Garlic…

Uncle Joe was my favorite Uncle. He wasn't my biological Uncle but he and his wife Ida (Aunt Ida), were regular features of our household. He was an Italian from Boston, a proud house painter, an amazing cook, and a gifted joke-teller. You'd arrive at his house to the vibrant sound of opera and be greeted by his three-legged dog, Figaro (please roll the R). Always a warm hug, some beautiful cheese or deli meat (from Rod the "butcha") and the smell of garlic that permeated from his pores. 

Uncle Joe LOVED garlic. Raw or cooked, it didn't matter. He'd pop entire cloves into his mouth. Where Uncle Joe was, garlic was not far behind (literally and figuratively). He understood what I'm sharing with you, which is that garlic has tremendous health benefits. Garlic boosts your immunity, has a positive affect on your arteries and blood pressure, is anti-inflammatory, an antioxidant and has antibacterial properties. Now please, don’t go crazy with garlic (like Uncle Joe) because some people are sensitive to it. And if you're on blood thinners be aware of your garlic intake because it has blood-thinning properties too. 

But otherwise, here's to your health and to the Uncle Joe's of the world. 

xo Kathryn
A Happy Balance